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Metal Detecting
Advice on equipment selection from a national expert
Safes & Strongboxes
Essential security for any precious metals endeavor
Thoughts on equipment selection from a national expert!
Each and every day I am asked -- "Tell me which detector is the best detector made?" I think that is a fair question, considering that when people buy a metal detector, they will be spending considerably more than $1.98! There is, however, a basic flaw in the question. The question should be modified to ask "Tell me which is the best detector for me?" This last question is best answered with a series of questions.
Continued...
Have you ever used a detector before? If this is a first detector for you, then you should consider your usual purchasing habits as they relate to other items. Do you generally buy top of the line products with a lot of features, or do you like simplicity? A good example might be a camera. Do you like a "point and shoot" type, or do you like to be able to make a lot of adjustments? Think of this when looking at detectors.
How much money have you budgeted for this detector and how much time do you expect to devote to this sport? These two issues should be considered together. If you plan to detect many hours a week, you probably will want to have a detector with more electronic features than if you plan to spend an occasional few hours at the shore or in a park. The price of a metal detector will increase in relationship to the number of features it has. You can have a lot of fun with a basic detector but, if you expect extensive use and don't get enough features in your detector, you will be out shopping again before you know it.
Have you considered the cost of the accessory equipment you will need for use along with it? Aside from the price of the detector, you will need to buy some of the following items, such as a headphone with volume controls, trowels, beach scoops, a coil cover and a detector bag. Good headphones are especially important since they extend the sound of the signal, make your detector's batteries last longer, and keep the beeping from annoying others. There is no better, nor more comfortable metal detecting headphone than the Depthmaster Superphone.
Where do you plan to use this detector? There are different types of detectors for coins and jewelry, for relics, for prospecting and for use in the water. Some detectors can overlap in their application, but generally they are special purpose.
Nowadays, the most common type of detector purchased is a general purpose coin, jewelry, and relic detector. This will have a discrimination adjustment and sensitivity control at the very least. All detectors have waterproof coils. (But remember, if you fall into the drink with a land detector, you're out of luck!) Additional features, may include various types of meter displays, a manual ground balancing adjustment and more sophisticated discrimination adjustments called "notch." Some detectors may be micro-processor controlled.
There are detectors which are intended primarily for use at the shore or in the water. This type of detector will not have a meter display and targets will be found via the audio signal. This allows fewer openings because the most important fact of life in a beach detector is that it doesn't leak!
Detectors intended for prospecting gold or silver frequently will have no discrimination and always require manual ground balancing for best results. The frequencies of these detectors are the most appropriate for locating precious metal ores. If you want to have a dual purpose prospecting/coin shooting detector, look for a prospecting detector with discrimination.
There is one other type of detector which is used for extreme depth situations. These are called "two box detectors" and they have limited general purpose use. Detectorists who use this type of equipment are looking for a cache, veins of ore, or pipes or cables.
What kind of physical shape are you in? Metal detectors can have very different configurations, and can therefore be a different physical experience for each person. Some detectors can be taken off the pole, and hung from the waist or other parts of the body, while others cannot. Some people prefer a good hefty solid feel to their detector, and some look for the lightest weight possible. What is best for your friend, may in fact be totally inappropriate for you. Remember to think about how you will feel after several hours of metal detecting.
Investigate new detectors before you assume that the purchase of an older used detector is a good deal. You may be pleasantly surprised at the many features new entry level detectors have for a very reasonable price. You don't want to end up with someone else's castoff if you could have a new detector for a comparable price.
While you are agonizing over the selection of a detector, the following fact should be kept in mind. Don't worry too much. If it turns out you like the activity and get "hooked," the first detector you purchase will not be your last!
For more details on hobby metal detectors visit www.metaldetector.com today!
Copyright 2000 Detector Electronics Corp.
Do I really need a headphone?
Thoughts on headphones from a national expert!
It is a fact that all land based metal detectors produce an audio signal when they pass over metal targets. It is also true that when you first hear these signals, they seem to be shockingly loud. So, it would naturally seem to follow that a metal detector's external speaker should be totally sufficient. Why then do experienced detectorists always use a set of very good headphones? Furthermore, what makes a headphone "very good" in combination with a metal detector? Let's explore some of the reasoning involved in headphone usage.
Imagine yourself lying back on a lounge, soaking up the sun in a local park, or at the water's edge. Some one comes along, plunks themselves down five feet away, and blasts a boom box at you during the time that you had set aside to unwind. That would be downright rude. All sports and hobbies have an etiquette as well as a code of ethics and sense of fair play. Metal detecting is no different, and it is highly discourteous and quite offensive to hover around some one while your detector beeps away. Do this long enough and you could provoke someone into summoning a person with the authority to exclude you, your detector and other detectorists from the area.
On the other hand, let's assume that you are not an especially socially conscientious person. Well, okay... what you really care about is finding a lot of STUFF! So, now we come to one of the greatest reasons to use a headphone. You will be able to better hear those faint, deep signals, and more easily discern smaller items which might be lying on edge. This will allow you to find more items. Additionally, many distracting exterior sounds such as wind, waves and wolves will be muted. Okay, If you insist upon hearing the wolves, leave one earcup askew!
If you are fiscally oriented in the same direction as many detectorists, then you have an economical streak in you and undoubtedly enjoy getting something for nothing. Well, the use of a headphone will save you money by allowing the batteries in your detector to last longer. This is because the speaker in the detector is turned off when the headphone is plugged in to it and so, no energy is required to drive the detector's external speaker.
"But," you say "I already have a great set of headphones for my stereo or multi-media system. Can I use them?" The answer is "Maybe." If you can answer all of the following questions with a yes, then you probably can.
Does your headphone have a volume control on each ear? (Most detectors don’t have a volume control, and you don't want your ears blasted.)
Does your headphone have moisture resistant mylar speakers? (Paper cone speakers deteriorate from moisture and eventually mute soft signals.)
Do you know if your detector has a stereo jack? (If stereo headphones are used with a detector that has a mono jack you will get sound in only one ear.) (Of course, you might want to listen for wolves with the silent ear.)
The components, frequencies, and Ohms in metal detecting headphones are specially selected to allow you to hear the best with most metal detectors. Most headphones have a selector switch or adapter so that you can use them with all of the detectors that you own. Some specialty headphones can process the audio of metal detectors for maximum depth as well as safeguard your hearing against overly loud signals. These will automatically match your detector's preferential Ohms. Look for them under the DEPTHMASTER brand name. For more details visit www.metaldetector.com Copyright 2000 Detector Electronics Corp.